Police in Elmwood Park NJ used pepper spray when arresting a man who allegedly asked the officers to shoot him.
Elmwood Park police got a report of a disturbance at a residence located on Summit Avenue. When police officers showed up at the scene, the suspect’s sisters reportedly directed them to a room on the second floor of the house.
According to law enforcement, the suspect had two knives in his waistband.
The suspect reportedly began to scream when police officers entered the room. The suspect then allegedly reached into his waistband and used one of the knives to try to kill himself.
While police officers attempted to convince the suspect to put down the knife, he repeatedly said, “Shoot me.”
The confrontation eventually ended when the suspect walked toward one of the officers. Another officer then pepper sprayed the suspect in the face.
The good news is that the police officers apprehended the suspect and secured the weapons without anyone else getting hurt.
After the incident, the suspect was taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey. The suspect received medical treatment and psychiatric treatment at the hospital.
According to Elmwood Park NJ police, the suspect faces criminal charges. The suspect will probably be charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
If the suspect is convicted of aggravated assault, he will be subject to severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(5)(a), aggravated assault on a police officer as a second degree, third degree, or fourth degree felony. A conviction on second degree aggravated assault charges could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Elmwood Park Man Asked Cops to Shoot Him Before Arrest, Police Say.”